Bembe

I really liked this place. The music was a combo of Latin/ Caribbean/ afrobeats (on a Saturday). they also had a live drummer playing along with the music. I thought that added so much to the experience. Definitely some of the best music I’ve heard at a New York bar. Drinks were reasonably priced and pretty good, $14 for a mojito. Cover was $15 pp, which is not too bad. however, the place was packed and we were there somewhat early, around 10-11pm. It is pretty small for dancing. It would be nice to limit the amount of people inside so the people in there can have a better time. I also didn’t like that there were a lot of single guys standing around watching the girls. They weren’t being creepy per se, but it was uncomfortable for me even though I was with my boyfriend. Like, just go dance with your friends! Stop leering around trying to pick up girls. Anyway, I would go back for the music and decor. Maybe on a weekday.

Had such a good time dancing! Music was incredible. Good crowd.

Went for the Latin rhythms to dance with friends on Thursday, drinks were okay, service at bar good, it wasn’t full so it was nice but the music was not what it says in the website, and then when finally played Latin music some salsa, merengue and bachata for like half hour and then mostly the worst existing reggaeton. Latin American music is rich with cumbia, afro rhythms, Mexican cumbia, even there’s good reggaeton but the DJ was just bad on selection and thy way songs were mixed or change, really terrible! Spotify would create a better playlist!

I had a great time here. I recently visited for my birthday with some friends. Parking was relatively easy to find in the area and it’s near the bridge too. I loved the live percussions which gave me a taste of clubs in Miami but minus the indoor smoking and minus the money machines. Haha. The also have red stripe which is a cool beer from Jamaica. The DJ played good music. I would visit this establishment again. The only thing that sucked was the $15 cover charge 🙃

I deeply dislike writing poor reviews but this unfortunately isn’t the same place it used it be pre-covid. The staff aren’t nearly as kind as they used to be and it gets super hot inside. We also found the bouncer to be unnecessarily rude and (granted it isn’t the fault of the venue but just a change in clientele) found many of the male patrons to be super aggressive as opposed to just dancing normally with you

The bouncer is incredibly disrespectful and should not only be fired, but Bembe should be sued for poor hiring and retention practices. The bouncer aggressively hit on me as I was entering the ladies room. I politely declined his advances. Later in the evening as he was passing by and saw me sitting by myself (my date was purchasing drinks at the bar), out of the blue he began uttering some pretty disrespectful and loud comments. I was so embarrassed. I dressed him down, and immediately reported him to the manager. My date and I left with assurances from the manager that the bouncer would be fired because they were fed up of receiving complaints about him. I have never stepped foot in Bembe since. He should have been fired on the spot for his insane conduct and management should have followed up with me via phone to express their regrets and to offer some gesture in the way of trying to amend matters. Failure all around. Poor hiring, poor management, insane bouncer.

Excellent environment!!! I had so much fun with my friends there and the drums are FANTASTIC! Looking forward to go again!

Bembe hidden Gem 💎 on your block... In the mood to dance the night out with friends or with a lover, Bembe is the spot... Great DJs from Afrobeat to Reggae, Reggaeton Bachata, Salsa, Amapiano, Cumbia... Bembe is the spot. Be sure to Check them out...